The Exchange

Just outside of our comfort zone is the space where magical things can happen, whether that be finding love, expanding professional horizons, or learning something new and exciting.

Science Speed Dating was an event that did just that - stretched our programmatic skills to new places, but with an excellent, and spicy, result!

The brainchild of none other than our excellent Exchange team, Science Speed Dating sent participants on an intellectual journey to explore the work of seven different scientists in seven, seven-minute sessions. Sound like a lot to take in? Remember that all seven scientists worked in disparate fields!

Superheroes, a movie premier, science, and Natalie Portman – four things that make our teenage hearts swoon! And that’s exactly the reaction we were looking for when we teamed up with the brilliant minds at Marvel, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), Dolby Laboratories, and Girl Scouts USA, to roll out Marvel’s THOR: The Dark World Ultimate Mentor Adventure!

Marvel’s THOR: The Dark World Ultimate Mentor Adventure aims to empower high school aged girls to discover their vast potential in the world of STEM. Throughout the adventure we hope to excite, inspire and reveal the exciting possibilities that a career in a STEM field holds. Girls will have a chance to ask successful women in STEM fields about what they do, how they got where they are…and how others can follow in their footsteps.

Serene, mysterious, always intriguing, with just a touch of danger – on paper, the description of a beautiful woman and the great Pacific Ocean could be easily confused.

Below the surface of some of the world’s most majestic waves, lies a world that few have experienced, and even fewer have explored. David Gallo is able to count himself as one of the lucky few who has come face to face with the near-secret world that lies beneath the surface of the sea.

"You have walked 3,343 steps today," according to the FitBit Flex around your wrist. But why do you feel so sluggish? A quick peek at your daily data suggests that it could be due to your 10 periods of restlessness the night before.

The Quantified Self movement elicits a vision of futuristic self improvements that would allow us unprecedented access to our own daily "data" in ways that we have never had before.

What’s the next big thing in light? Well, it just may be an array of products that will revolutionize the way we look at our phones and even how we watch television. The innovative new products will use an energy efficient technology that’s a perfect example of what can go right when academia, industry, and the government collaborate.

A treasure hidden in plain view, the expansive Google New York building engulfs an entire square block of the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan. But, while the building is hard to miss, gaining access to what lies within those four concrete walls is a much more difficult feat.

On the surface, the 2,900,000 square foot building boasts all of the amenities that we have come to expect of a Google campus. Free artisan snacks stand beside your corner store favorites in micro-kitchens, chill pods can be found behind hidden walls, and a healthy dose of whimsy runs throughout it all.

What do you get when you mix NASA, Peter Cullen, the voice of Optimus Prime, historical footage, a group of passionate advocates and a crowdfunding campaign? Most likely, a really fantastic 30 second clip that will now be shown across the country.

The Aerospace Industries Association first set out to raise enough money to pay for the clip to air before Star Trek Into Darkness in a few select major markets. When they were greeted with unexpected enthusiasm and generosity, they soon set their sights on a bigger goal, 50 cities across the country.

Dan Hendrickson, of AIA, was at the helm of this innovative campaign, see what he has to say about the project and the future of space exploration!

Magic flying carpets, how to obliterate your enemy and the ability to see through walls; sound like something from your favorite science fiction movie? What if we told you that all of those things were technically possible?

According to Neil Gershenfeld, it’s true! All of the aforementioned technologies may be possible in the future, and the future may not be as far off as you may think.

The Science & Entertainment Exchange hosted an informal evening of science, snacks, and conversation last month, featuring esteemed professor, Neil Gershenfeld. Our gracious hosts, Janet and Jerry Zucker, opened their home to entertainers and science geeks alike, to talk about technology of the future.

More than 148 years after President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, he continues to make his mark on American society, with this year being no exception. Here at the Science & Entertainment Exchange, we have a particular affinity for good old Abe, and this week our pride swells even more than usual. March 3, 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences, which was signed into existence by none other, than Abraham Lincoln, himself!

In honor of Abraham Lincoln in all forms, both historical and theatrical, we thought we’d bring your attention to a few interesting facts about man, the myth and the legend in the stovepipe hat. Try to guess if we’re being truthful, or if we’re pulling your (possibly wooden) leg!

The Exchange played cruise director for a diverse group of entertainers who gathered together in La Jolla, California, to tour the Salk Institute of Biological Studies and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Among their ranks were producers, writers, directors, and educators who came together to learn about the newest and most exciting scientific innovations that southern California has to offer.

The group was split in two after breakfast. Much like a movie where twins are separated at birth, both groups went on similar tours throughout the day, mirroring the other’s experience. While one group toured the Salk Institute, the other half went to explore what lies deep below the ocean surface.

At the Salk Institute, head scientist, Ricardo Gil da Costa, led the group around the expansive and beautiful campus that is perched right on the shoreline. Established in 1959 by Jonas Salk, the Salk Institute boasts an impressive array of scientific innovations.